A Raisin In The Sun: An Analysis

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The American dream means something different to each one of the Youngers in the play, “A Raisin in the Sun,” written by Lorraine Hansberry that debuted on Broadway in 1959. The characters in the story all have their own set of issues and dreams. The relationship between each of the Younger’s greatly influences each of their decisions. When a check for ten thousand dollars comes in the mail, the Younger’s world changes and they all learn what it really means to be a family.
Lena Younger’s, known as “Mama”, dream was to have a happy and healthy family. Her goal was to buy a bigger house for her growing family to help better their future with the check for ten thousand dollars that came in the mail after the death of her husband. In an article titled, “The Historical Problem of Generations.”, Karl Mannheim proposed the idea that a continual production of a new generation is inertly problematic for the transmission of a prevailing culture. Mama doesn’t understand what the big deal is with …show more content…

This section helps depict the generation gap between Mama and Walter and how the “American Dream” evolves over time. At the end of the play, Mama walks into the living room and grabs her plant. The plant symbolizes her family. She knows that the plant never gets enough water or light but she continuously cares for it. This is the same for her family. Even though her family is not in the best environment, she still takes care of them. Her dreams for a bigger home is the same as her desire to have a garden. Her persistence to take care of her plant is a very symbolic to how she love and wants to care of her family. Mama always has a optimistic view and hopes that if she continuous to take care of her plant even though the circumstances, that everything will turn out fine for the greater

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